US6101339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera and system operating from a secondary battery
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-04-08
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Granted: 2000-08-08
•
Expires: 2019-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A camera operating from a secondary battery has a camera body, a unit including a taking lens, and a secondary battery incorporated in the unit. The secondary battery is charged by being supplied with electric power from the camera body. The unit is a lens barrel.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuya Miki
- 👤 Hidekazu Nakajima
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Mizumo
- 👤 Kenji Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/26; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/55; H04N23/60; H04N23/65; H04N23/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A system that operates from a secondary battery, comprising: a main device; a unit detachable from said main device, said unit being attached to said main device to add a predetermined function to said main device; a primary battery incorporated in one of said main device and said unit; and a secondary battery incorporated in the other of said main device and said unit, wherein said primary battery is used to charge said secondary battery when said unit is attached to said main device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A system that operates from a secondary battery, comprising: a main device; a unit detachable from said main device, said unit being attached to said main device to add a predetermined function to said main device; a primary battery incorporated in one of said main device and said unit; and a secondary battery incorporated in the other of said main device and said unit, wherein said primary battery is used to charge said secondary battery when said unit is attached to said main device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main device is a camera body, said unit is a lens barrel, said primary battery is incorporated in said camera body, and said secondary battery is incorporated said lens barrel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main device is a camera body, said unit is a camera grip, said primary battery is incorporated in said camera grip, and said secondary battery is incorporated in said camera body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main device is a camera body, said unit is a flash, said primary battery is incorporated in said flash, and said secondary battery is incorporated in said camera body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A camera comprising: a camera body; a unit including a taking lens; and a secondary battery incorporated in said unit, wherein said secondary battery is charged by being supplied with electric power from said camera body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A camera comprising: a camera body; a unit including a taking lens; and a secondary battery incorporated in said unit, wherein said secondary battery is charged by being supplied with electric power from said camera body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said unit is a lens barrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said secondary battery is shaped substantially like a torus that extends around an inner surface of said lens barrel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lens barrel can be retracted relative to said camera body, and said secondary battery is charged when said lens barrel is retracted relative to said camera body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lens barrel includes a shutter that is driven by being supplied with electric power from said secondary battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A camera as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a communication device for communicating a signal with which to drive said shutter between said camera body and said lens barrel on a wireless basis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein said communication device also transmits information on a remaining capacity of said secondary battery to said camera body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lens barrel includes a lens driver that drives said taking lens by being supplied with electric power from said secondary battery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a communication device for communicating a signal with which to, drive said taking lens between said camera body and said lens barrel on a wireless basis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein said communication device also transmits information on a remaining capacity of said secondary battery to said camera body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said unit includes an imaging device that is driven by being supplied with electric power from said secondary battery, and said camera further comprises a communication device for transmitting an image signal obtained from said imaging device to said camera body on a wireless basis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said unit is detachable from said camera body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said communication device also transmits information on a remaining capacity of said secondary battery to said camera body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera comprising: a camera body; a unit including a taking lens; and a communication device for communicating data between said camera body and said unit on a wireless basis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A camera comprising: a camera body; a unit including a taking lens; and a communication device for communicating data between said camera body and said unit on a wireless basis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
A camera as claimed in claim 18, wherein said unit further includes a secondary battery, said unit is a lens barrel that can be retracted relative to said camera body, and said secondary battery is charged by being supplied with electric power from said camera body when said lens barrel is retracted relative to said camera body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
A camera comprising: a camera body; a secondary battery incorporated in said camera body; and an accessory for a camera, said accessory being detachable from said camera body and incorporating a battery serving as an electric power source, wherein said secondary battery is charged by being supplied with electric power from said battery incorporated in said accessory when said accessory is attached to said camera body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
A camera comprising: a camera body; a secondary battery incorporated in said camera body; and an accessory for a camera, said accessory being detachable from said camera body and incorporating a battery serving as an electric power source, wherein said secondary battery is charged by being supplied with electric power from said battery incorporated in said accessory when said accessory is attached to said camera body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 20, wherein said accessory is a battery pack.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 21, wherein said battery pack functions as a grip when attached to said camera body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A camera as claimed in claim 20, wherein said accessory is a flash.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera as claimed in claim 20, wherein said camera body can operate by being supplied with electric power from either of said secondary battery and said battery incorporated in said accessory.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-08 | 2004-02-07 | 2004-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-08 | 2008-02-07 | 2008-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-08 | 2012-02-07 | 2012-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |